In this time of coronavirus our message is that God is for you and so are we.
We stand with you and your family and our community and our health care workers. I hope you noticed that we changed our theme colors to those of the Alberta Health Services. We wanted in a simple way to say thank you, we love you, we’re praying for you and we’re supporting you in your work by staying home.

We’re celebrating communion today and we won’t let a little thing like being apart keep us from having communion together. We’ll explain the purpose of communion but we want you to be ready for later in the service so you’ll need something to use for juice and bread. Get some cups, and some apple juice, grape juice, cranberry juice. Bread, pita, or a cracker. This will be the most memorable if not the most meaningful communion you have ever experienced.

This is Bethel online. Welcome home. Our online services are a safe place for those at risk and the vulnerable to participate. We are driven by making disciples who make disciples.

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This coronavirus has brought life to a near standstill.
The economy is broken. Massive layoffs. I don’t need to rehearse the facts here because you know the drill. We want to know “When will things return to normal?”
What if normal is overrated?
What if your normal was actually holding you back from experiencing the real life God wants for you? What if church as normal was holding you back? Have we played it too safe? Have we made too few changes? What if the normal way you live in family was holding you back? What if the normal approach to money made you poor not rich?

Despite advances in antibiotics and vaccines, and the successful eradication of smallpox, planet earth is still locked in the same epic battle with viruses and other pathogens that we’ve been fighting since the beginning of our history. When cities first arose, diseases laid them low, a process repeated over and over for thousands of years.

Two things we know for sure:
1. This crisis did not take God by surprise.
2. God entered into our suffering.

The last Passover Jesus celebrated was normal. Passover was an annual religious event that Peter, James, John and the rest of the disciples had celebrated every year since they were old enough to remember. Everybody was doing same old same old. Everybody that is except for Jesus.
He knows something catastrophic is on the 24-hour horizon that he has been warning them about for months. No one understands. Everything seems normal.

Jesus says how he looked forward to this. The disciples are hearing something like, blah, blah, blah. Then he says, “before I suffer.”
No one hears him.
How do I know that?
Because after he gives his speech the FIRST thing his disciples do is worship? Honour him? Rally round him? No. They argue.
They do what’s normal.
A dispute arose – “who is the greatest?”
Note: Jesus does not criticize their aspiration to be great.
Jesus said “I am among you as one who serves.” Jesus was generous – with love, life, and lifting up people.

He shows them how to have life long victory. Be as one who serves.
This is the "normal" for the believer.
Jesus died so we could have life.
We need to die to ourselves so Jesus can live through us.
That's why "communion" is so important.

I love the Message version of 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

v. 23 - “Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper (communion) and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you.”

Communion is centrally important because it focuses on what Jesus did for you.

v. 25 - “What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you re-enact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns.”

Remembering is a declaration. In partaking of the elements you declare: “Jesus gave his body and blood – his life - for me. He died for me.”

Personal Question: “Do you believe that Jesus died for you and was raised from the dead for your salvation?” Declaration is a vital part of faith.

Declare with me, “I believe Jesus died and rose from the dead.”

Did you believe and declare this? Please email me your commitment at bob.pb.jones@gmail.com

“The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,
This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.”

“After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.”

We want to help you with your decision to follow Jesus. Please text the word FOLLOW to 780-707-5569 and we will reply with helpful Next Steps.